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85turbo12a 11-01-12 09:32 PM

here is a pic of the modded shifter housing to move the assembly back 4 inches, this might be a usefull idea for guys puting a 3 rotor in a gen1, and want to retain the nice factory shifter look.

i did this by cutting the shifter housing off at the rear most bolt pattern and moving it to bolt in the forward boss on the trans, this required weld up of the bottom dowl hole and remachining of it, and i then welded the spacer/stabilizer block to the rear of the housing after a slight mill prep, then machined it all off square with the mating surfaces, added the rear dowl location and i made the billet clamp to go around the tail shaft to hold the housing solid since there is no rear support for it now, it was overkill yes..but its stock i had laying around.
you get the idea
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...85364672_n.jpg

85turbo12a 11-01-12 09:44 PM

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...39172360_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...46355237_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...05041382_n.jpg
^^clearance is clearance right? :D

85turbo12a 11-01-12 09:46 PM

new trans xmember, weighs about 2lbs..i kid maybe a little more..

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...20007255_n.jpg

85turbo12a 11-01-12 09:56 PM

for a few details on the hood clearance...i used the RE-speed Xmember, spaced down on the chassis by 3/8 inch, i also milled 1/8 off of the lower intakes top surface where the upper mounts to it and shortened the oil pan by approx 1 inch, i added 1 x 2 tube to bottom of Xmember as a strike point so the front end of the car is kinda low now...just have to be carefull, but the springs arent mushy so it be ok.
all that resulted in a quad cam v8 under the stock hood. with enough clearance to be safe, though the engine mounts are solid, its a "luxobarge" engine so its smooth. and revs to 7k..

as for bumpsteer and overall front end happiness i added some strut spacers at 3/4" for now, can always add or subtract as needed to correct any if encountered. really with as many changes as i had to do it will be a miracle if it drives correctly right away, but i hope its decent.

luckily i know mike at ISC pretty well and i can think of no one better to help me sort it here locally.

85turbo12a 11-01-12 11:04 PM


Originally Posted by 85turbo12a (Post 11274010)
here is a pic of the hood closed with the engine in the car for all you skeptics out there :D

pic didnt stick...trying again...

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...39751336_n.jpg

85turbo12a 11-01-12 11:11 PM

and to give you a scope of the efforts needed to put this bastard in this little car...here is an ls1 next to one, mind you this one is fully dressed with covers etc.
luckily our engine bays are quite wide, just wish i had a little more headroom and front end space without adding the silly body kits...i love the stock lines of gen1 and dont want to ruin it.

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...62609930_n.jpg

85turbo12a 11-04-12 12:08 AM

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...79025461_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...78761394_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...54858745_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...02558136_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...10854946_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...53841892_n.jpg

just tacking and fitting plumbing, still lacking a few parts like intercooler so working as far as i can go and moving to something else

85turbo12a 11-05-12 08:31 PM

still waiting on parts to continue, as well as do the welding on the compressor housing mod and charge plumbing...stay tuned....

85turbo12a 11-06-12 09:49 PM

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...63227188_n.jpg
this is all the intercooler i can realistically fit without cutting up my chassis, plus wont need anything bigger really, its going to be on pump gas boost levels and i have water injection also

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...46098563_n.jpg
had to make an oil re-routing block to eliminate the stock filter housing since it does not fit in the car, plus i want to run external filters and a cooler, this routes the lines forward away from the steering, i will be mounting all that mess soon enough once the intercooler is hung in place

CJ8989 11-07-12 10:45 AM

OMG i finally found someone doing this swap. Thank the baby jesus. Just when i was about to give up and go 5.0.... I might just have to wait to do this though. Looks like a lot of custom more work has to be done than i originally anticipated. I do not have the $ nor skills to fabricate or weld parts atm. Ill sure as shit be following this build very closely though.

FelixIsGod29X 11-07-12 04:47 PM

^^^When doing a custom one off swap be prepared to weld

CJ8989 11-07-12 05:43 PM

I did not know this had not been done before... Really want to do this now.

@85turbo12a: Are you a member on Norotors.com? If not you should post this build there it would get a lot of interest and attention.

85turbo12a 11-07-12 06:23 PM


Originally Posted by CJ8989 (Post 11279977)
I did not know this had not been done before... Really want to do this now.

@85turbo12a: Are you a member on Norotors.com? If not you should post this build there it would get a lot of interest and attention.

no I am not, i talked to an LSx swapped FD guy here in town that mentioned the forum as well, i have 3 build threads to maintain now...thats enough

as for done before, a FEW gen1s have had this engine in, none have been under stock hood that i have seen and none turbo or twin turbo, still only found a handfull so far in pics and articles, and they were all in new zealand.

and CJ8989 dont fear the money too much, its not as expensive as it sounds if you do the majority of the work, but you will need some serious tools and time. plus the other mods to the car have racked up quite a tab ill admit, but one could do a much lighter budget build with an NA 1uz and still get away with the gslse rear end and have fun with it, it WILL be hard to fit under the stock hood though without the mentioned mods, but if you can stand a cowl its a BUNCH less work.

suck_my_rotor 11-07-12 07:46 PM

Nice build man :D

CJ8989 11-08-12 02:04 PM

Ok you have me back on the path of a 1uzfe now...(So stoked) Be prepared I will be coming to you for a lot of info because you are the only other person i have found currently doing this swap.

I seen that you said a stock gslse rear will work. Well I have a gsl not the gslse. Is there any difference? I was told that they are both strong. Also In order to do this swap will I be able to get away with the stock sc400 ecu and harness?

85turbo12a 11-08-12 07:15 PM


Originally Posted by CJ8989 (Post 11280807)
Ok you have me back on the path of a 1uzfe now...(So stoked) Be prepared I will be coming to you for a lot of info because you are the only other person i have found currently doing this swap.

I seen that you said a stock gslse rear will work. Well I have a gsl not the gslse. Is there any difference? I was told that they are both strong. Also In order to do this swap will I be able to get away with the stock sc400 ecu and harness?

the 84-85 rears are all the same basically as far as differential, but the gslse has posi and of course the bigger bolt pattern and brakes, but will it work yes, IF its left stock NA it will handle it for the most part. thats 280ft/lbs torque or so, on street tires should be fine.
as far as ecu and harness goes sure if your doing a stock install, but if you want tuning ability and accurate spark controll my opinion on ANY engine is to toss the stock stuff in the garbage and put a controllable full function stand-alone on the engine and not screw around with retuning stock crap and using distributors and all that nonsense that was only intended to ever do the job it was made for. plus i hate distributors almost as much as i hate carburators, its sloppy archaic technology that is 40 years out of date.

first off ill warn you about fitment....its DOESNT so you have to make some very important decisions first.
do you want it manual?
do you want it stock HP?
do you want a cowl hood?
do you have someone to weld for you? because you ARE going to need it, there is no escaping it.
there is absolutely NO way you can fit an sc400 engine in a gen1 with the stock steering, due to the oil pan and pickup configuration. however i theorize you MIGHT be able to kibnda fake one in the car the same way the SBF guys do with and >ls400< engine, same engine front sump pan, but flipping the Xmember around and maybe some "massaging" of it, but thats being desperate to keep the crappy stock steering, your cheapest bet is to do the common gen2 front xmember/steering/suspension swap and modding as needed.

now for a trans you see what i did, because i already owned the clutch parts and im poor so i just made it work and we will see if it holds...no promises...but for the average person, if you want it manual, just get the aftermarket bellhousing and such to adapt a w58 or r154 supra trans to it and call it a day.

however i do suggest some lengthy reading at lextreme.com to decide if you REALLY want one of these, they are not easy to work on. and it does not fit very easy in a gen1...not at all...they do fit quite nicely in gen2, but the gen1 has just enough lack of space to make life hell fitting it.

85turbo12a 11-08-12 09:55 PM

i couldnt find anyone else doing one either, thats why i went ahead with it despite the challenges that followed...and seem to keep following me...

the ONLY advantage to the 1uz over other alum V8s is it is CHEAP because no one in the US really uses them, they are everywhere in boneyards and in no demand, but because of those reason, there is VERY little aftermarket support, hell its even a challenge to find good gaskets, you can buy rods, pistons, cams and valvetrain stuff but it is realyl expensive and your back to the same amount it would cost to buy an ls1/2/3 etc, and with much less end power potential in NA form, so its a weighing the trade off thing, for me, i got my engine for 300 bucks, my other engine for 200 for mockups, and the rebuild parts for a stock-ish engine arent any more than any other engine, i did add the upgraded valvesrpings though because of turbocharging, and since making the bulk of everything i need myself minus the new starter and of course the new turbos and plumbing it was still pretty cheap all things considered, its the steering and suspension mods that ran up the bill.....that and those damn AN fittings and lines....

so for someone doing an NA install, allmost all of that other stuff can be avoided, since you only need to install an EFI fuel system capable of supporting 300hp so a walbro pump is sufficient and cheap, and the engine can be had from a JDM importer with low miles for around 6-800 dollars, and all you really need to do is clean it up, take off what you dont need and put it in the car. its kind of heavy fully trimmed, probably nearly 500lbs, since it had 2 hydraulic pumps on it, plus AC compressor that is enormous, and about 40lbs of plastic covers and bullshit.

but fitment is difficult make no mistake, there is a reason you dont see other installs, very few people would stick with this engine to get it in the car, im just too darn stubborn and stupid to give up

CJ8989 11-09-12 12:25 AM

Well I was all for it again until the wife seen "cowl hood"....... and because I do not have the resources to modify to the extent needed to clear the stock hood line nor do i have a welder or access to one i guess this is not the rout I need to go right now...... Well back to the 5.0 I go.... lol Regardless this is a sick build man. I cant wait to see this thing finished and see some videos. Maybe sometime in the future i will come back to this...... ;)

85turbo12a 11-09-12 02:10 PM

yes with solid engine mounts to prevent engine movement, and taking an inch out of the oil pan, and lowering the Xmember down as far as somewhat safely possible i just barely clear the hood with the stock intake, now mind you, you could build an intake to lose a lot of height, but thats a pain also...there is no "great" way to go about it.

im still having trouble piping the drivers side turbo...there just isnt enough room in this dam car!! :D

cfamilyfix 11-10-12 05:34 PM

This build is nothing short of amazing. The skills that it takes to work at this level are many. Congrats. When you are done you will have a very unique, reliable and powerful car. Cant wait to hear it run

85turbo12a 11-10-12 08:16 PM

^thank you, and i hope so...otherwise it WILL get an lsx/t56 and any and all doubt will be shed lol

ZDan 11-11-12 06:12 PM


Originally Posted by 85turbo12a (Post 11274184)

Sorry, but I'ma continue to troll your build thread ;)

This pic impresses the hell out of me. Congrats on squeezing that massive DOHC V8 beneath the SA hood!

85turbo12a 11-11-12 06:55 PM

its never too big to fit if she wants it bad enough :D

85turbo12a 11-11-12 07:09 PM

https://www.rx7club.com/attachments/...47329587_n-jpg

here is a down low side view Zdan, you see the intake and other fender here, basically the slight curve of the hood is the clearance, and it just so happened to clear all bracing so far, the other plumbing might change that when done, but the engine itself clears pretty good, though it has to be solid mounted.

85turbo12a 11-17-12 06:22 PM

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...21581706_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...35071069_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...28184414_n.jpg

just some update pics, keep in mind its still in progress, some things are still in mock stage


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